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The Johnson County Courts at Law's own guidance for residential landlords and property owners in eviction appeals (trial de novo in County Court at Law No. 1 or No. 2): only a 100% individual owner may appear pro se and a legal entity must have counsel; the tenant's 5-day appeal window and the owner's 5-day window to contest a Statement of Inability; who keeps possession and the tenant's registry-rent duties under Prop. Code § 24.0054; the immediate writ of possession available when the initial deposit is missed and the notarized "Landlord's Sworn Motion for Writ of Possession and Notice of Hearing" (served the day of filing, at least 3 days' notice, one cure) when later rent is missed; trial settings only on a party's letter to the Court Coordinator with 3 days' notice and filed proof; default on a missing 8-day answer; and the courts' courtroom rules (early arrival, banned attire, three pre-marked exhibit copies, displayable digital evidence).
Texas > Johnson County > County Courts at Law Nos. 1 and 2 > appeals of residential eviction judgments from the Johnson County justice courts (TRCP 510; Prop. Code §§ 24.0054, 24.0061). The sheet is the courts' general guidance, "not case specific," and states it "IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR REPRESENTATION BY AN ATTORNEY." Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Court-authored guidance for residential landlords and property owners in eviction appeals from the Johnson County justice courts to County Court at Law No. 1 or No. 2 (fourth floor, Guinn Justice Center, 204 South Buffalo Avenue, Cleburne 76033): a completely new trial (trial de novo) under the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and Evidence. REPRESENTATION: an individual who personally owns 100% of the rental unit may appear pro se; a legal entity (corporation, LLC, limited partnership) "must" be represented by an attorney; an employee generally may not appear for the owner, but a non-lawyer may file a verified Motion for Writ of Possession for rent under Prop. Code § 24.0054 for a personal owner and may appear to file a properly prepared Motion to Dismiss the appeal. TIMING: the justice-court judgment becomes final unless the tenant appeals within 5 days (counting Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; the next open day if the 5th falls on one) by appeal bond, cash bond or a verified Statement of Inability to Pay; the owner may contest the Statement within 5 days by notifying the justice clerk of the contested portions, the justice court hears it within 5 days with the burden on the tenant, and if the contest is granted the tenant has 5 days to post bond, pay cash or appeal the denial. POSSESSION AND RENT: the tenant keeps possession during the appeal if a bond or cash bond was paid, if the eviction is for a reason other than nonpayment, or if rent is paid to the court as § 24.0054 requires — one month's rent to the justice court clerk within 5 days of filing the Statement and then each rental period's rent within 5 days of its due date to the Johnson County Clerk's Office; if the initial deposit is missed the owner may obtain a writ of possession from the justice court immediately, without notice or hearing, on a properly prepared and verified filing; if later rent is missed the owner files a properly prepared, sworn and notarized "Landlord's Sworn Motion for Writ of Possession and Notice of Hearing" with the county clerk, serves a true copy on the tenant the day of filing by personal delivery, fax or certified mail return receipt requested, and requests a hearing on at least 3 days' notice — the tenant may avoid the writ by paying the rent owed on or before the hearing, "only … once." Where a government agency stops paying its share the owner may ask the court to order the tenant to pay the full rent on a showing the owner did not cause and cannot reasonably remedy the stoppage; Texas Rent Relief funds may be paid to the County Clerk; a landlord who refuses rent during the appeal bears the risk. TRIAL SETTINGS: "The Court will not generally schedule the trial, absent a request from one or both of the parties" — either party delivers a letter to the Court Coordinator requesting a setting (with suggested dates), copied to the other party under the Rules; the case may be set once on file with the County Clerk for at least 8 days; the Coordinator may set a pre-trial hearing; the requesting party sends notice of the trial date by personal delivery, fax or certified mail — the tenant must receive at least 3 days' notice — and files proof of notice with the clerk. ANSWER AND DEFAULT: a tenant who did not answer in justice court must answer within 8 days after the County Court at Law receives the case (the clerk sends notice); absent an answer the owner may move for default judgment and is responsible for presenting a judgment in correct form. COURTROOM RULES: arrive 15–30 minutes early; "Shorts, flip-flops, and tank tops are strictly banned in the County Courts at Law"; address the judge as "Your Honor" and stand when speaking except while testifying; bring at least three pre-marked copies of each exhibit (original for the clerk's file, one for the opposing party, one for use); keep documents organized and digital evidence in a format the courtroom equipment can display. Trial procedure and any further appeal are outside the sheet's scope; the courts recommend counsel.
The information that follows was written for residential landlords and property owners in appeals of eviction cases in the Johnson County Courts at Law. … THIS INFORMATION IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR REPRESENTATION BY AN ATTORNEY.
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-09-07 (re-audit F11) from the four-page sheet captured in the Browser pane (text layer read in full). The sheet carries no date; none is asserted.
In justice-court eviction cases: the citation sets a personal-appearance trial day not less than 10 nor more than 21 days after the petition is filed; a written answer is permitted but NOT required (appearing on the trial day is what matters); no trial may be held until 4 days after service; and an appeal must be perfected within 5 days after the judgment is signed.
Policy Regarding Pro Se Applicants — Harris County Probate Courts (Probate Court No. 1 posting) — posted on the court's own website — the court-procedure tier (standing procedures, policies, and preferences the court itself publishes), distinct from the TOPICs-registered local-rules tier (TRCP 3a registration applies to local rules). Operative requirements quoted verbatim; the posted document is the controlling text.